Gujarat Economy

Industries in Gujarat :-

There were 20,050 (provisional) registered working factories and about 2,56,388 small scale industrial units on March 31, 2001. Establishments engaged in the manufacture of cotton textiles provide employment to a major portion of the industrial workers followed by the manufacture of non-metallic mineral products. These two industries together provide employment to 31.49% of the industrial workers. There was a development of industries like Chemicals, petrochemicals, fertilizers, engineering, electronics etc. With the largest Petro-chemical complex in the country, Gujarat is a major producer of inorganic chemicals such as soda-ash and caustic soda as well as chemical fertilizers. The establishments engaged in manufacturing of machinery and machinery tools and parts except electrical machinery, manufacturing of wool, silk and synthetic fiber textiles and basic metal and alloys industries cover 30.50% of the total industrial workers. Other manufacturing products are rubber, plastic, petroleum and coal products, transport equipments and parts, food products etc.

A large number of small scale industries are pertaining to metallic work, chemical industries, machinery except electricity and transport, cotton industry and non metallic mineral work etc. The most remarkable feature of Gujarat's recent industrial development has been the growth of the dairy industry, much of it conducted on a cooperative basis. There are now 15 milk processing plants with a production capacity of 3.2 million litres per day, which is the first in India. The membership of the dairying cooperatives exceeds 1 million. Of these the Kaira District Coperative Milk Producers Union (Anand) is the best known. To support milk production there are over 10 factories processing 1500-2000 tonnes of cattle feed per day. There is production of oil and natural gas in Ankleswar, Cambay and Kalol and a oil refinery at Koyali. Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) have developed around 257 mega industrial estates at Jhagadia, Vagra, Savli, Dahej, Anklaseshwar etc. Jamnagar, Porbandar, Jafrabad, Bhavnagar are centers of industry and trade.